Day 4 - The Ciavarella Trial

Former Luzerne County Prothonotary Testifies

On Friday, Former Luzerne County Prothonotary Jill "Moron" Moran testified in the trial of former Judge Mark "Ciavy" Ciavarella. If you remember back when Jill ran for office, she was one of the highest vote getter's during that election in 2001. It must have been those eyes. They scream "Do Me, Do Me"! Moran testified that she was given Fed Ex boxes by Robert "The Slip" Powell to deliver but knew not what was in them. She recalled however that "The Slip" had called her into his office and then into a small bathroom where she witnessed him stuffing banded money into a Fed Ex box while mumbling and cursing under his breath. He then told her, "this is the last one. If anyone asks you, this is the last one". She also claimed that she had no idea that someone in the law firm was writing checks out to her, forging her name and then cashing the checks. In other words, Jill was a patsy. She was being used and abused. Doesn't the old saying go, "Beat me, abuse me, make me write bad checks"? I think this may fit here!

Next on the stand was long time Luzerne County Courthouse employee Paul "Hairy" McGarry. Long time county employee, this should be good! He was Director Of Probation Services and Administrative Services from 2000 to 2004. Sounds like a job Frank Crossin may have put together. "Hairy" McGarry testified that his department arranged contacts with licensed facilities for the placement of juveniles that were found delinquent. He actually used the word "adjudicated" but it short circuited my cerebral cortex! He claimed that he never saw the 2002 agreement signed by Conahan guaranteeing that the county would pay $1.3 million every year to the privately owned for profit PA Child Care Juvinile Detention Center. Are you Freakin Kidding Me! Our tax payer dollars were going to these crooks without an official contract! Right here is one of the many reasons our County is in the shitter! "Hairy" McGarry also testified that he was the one who informed the Commissioners that the courts would no longer be sending kids to the county facility. Under cross examination he described the county kid lock up as rodent and roach infested, with a leaky roof, bad plumbing, poor heat and no medical facility. WHAT! How could the county let it get like this? Who was responsible for this facility? Whoever it was should be pistol whipped!

Finally on Day #4, "Ciavy's lawyer, Al Flora lost his bid for a mistrial which now plants the seed for an appeal. I knew it! I knew it! I made the prediction right here on the R2G that Ciavarella will see no actual jail time because he will string this thing out until he "Deep Sixes".

One other quick observation. Have you noticed in most of the pictures in the newspapers, on line and on TV, all of these people that are either on trial or testifying are smiling. Shouldn't they be shitting themselves here! Most of them have pleaded guilty to a charge and are now criminals. I just don't get it?

Tomorrow I will recap the week with a few bullets. We haven't heard about firearms yet!